Traction cradle appliance

ABSTRACT

Traction cradle appliance for the extension of traction of the cervical-upper-dorsal area of the spine. A cradle in which the head may rest is provided. Means are further provided for applying pressure to the occipital area and to both sides of the jaw area. Shoulder restraining means for maintaining stability of the shoulders while upward pressure is exerted on the jawoccipital area.

O Umted States Patent 1151 3,675,646 Corcoran 14 1 July 1 l, 1972 s41 TRACTION CRADLE APPLIANCE 592,002 1/1897 Denharn 297/405 522,192 6/1894 Browne ..297/407 2 t Corcornn, arms [7 1 'gzg t' g Ni F Lane 2,642,927 6/1953 Rlsmg ..297/39s 642,404 4/ I900 Wilkerson ..297/410 X [22] Filed: Aug. 31, 1970 1 pp No: 68.121 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,371,332 9/1964 France ..128l75 Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 771,261, Nov. 20, 'f' Gaudet 1968, Pat. No. 3,596,655. AJJISMM Examiner-J. Yasko Attorney-Jacob L. Kollin s21 u.s. c1 .12s/7s 511 1111. c1. ..A6lh 1/02 A CT M Traction cradle for he extension of "action of the cervical-upper-dorsal area of the spine. A cradle in which the head may rest is provided. Means are further provided for ap- [56] Reimnm Cmd plying pressure to the occipital area and to both sides of the UNITED ST A1155 PATENTS jaw area. Shoulder restraining means for maintaining stability of the shoulders while upward pressure is exerted on the jaw 1,356,365 10/1920 Hosmer 128/75 occipm ma 2,102,069 12/1937 Hanicke..... 128/75 X 547,390 3/1895 Akeley.............................m..297/4l0 2Clalms, 7 Drawing Figures 5 IV/I/f f1 n I 3'45 1 0'3 e 1 2 14 335 1 44 4 I 5'4 62 f r. 408 13; 52. LWL 1' I 1 379 :0 I 788 24 24 TRACTION CRADLE APPLIANCE The present application is a continuation-in-part of my U.S. application Ser. No. 771,261 filed on Nov. 20, 1968, now US. Pat. No. 3,596,655.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to traction devices in general and in particular to a traction cradle device for the specific extension or traction of the cervical-upper-dorsal area of the spine.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a cradle in which the head may rest with pressure applied to the occipital area as well as both sides of the jaw area.

Another object of the invention is to provide shoulder restrainers which will maintain stability of the shoulders, while pressure is being exerted upward on the jaw-occipital area.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means of applying traction and at the same time fit any and every head size.

Yet another object of the invention is to eliminate the confinement which the patient feels in presently known types of traction devices.

Still another object of the invention is to provide application of traction with a minimum of adjustment necessary for such procedure.

Yet another object of the invention is to eliminate the socalled hanging which is involved in all types of traction and to increase substantially the confidence of the patient upon the first application of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an appliance of the above character in which a patient may be reclined to any angled position down to horizontal.

Another object of the invention is to provide an appliance of the above character which is adapted for use by a patient in his own home.

Still another object of the invention is to vary the amount of traction that can be applied, so precisely and so gradually, that it will produce a complete sense of relaxation and provide a very secure feeling for the patient, while eliminating all discomfort.

With the above and such other objects of the invention which may hereafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

It is to be understood that the device is not limited to the construction and arrangement of parts disclosed and that changes, variations and modifications in the detail construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to within the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of the appliance according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the top assembly of the appliance viewed in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an adjustable assembly of the appliance viewed in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 2 and in operative position;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an adjustable assembly of the appliance viewed in the direction of the arrows 5-5;

FIG. 6 is a side view partly in section, of an appliance adapted for use by a patient in his own home and FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the appliance adapted to be reclined to an angled or horizontal position.

Referring now to the Figures in detail, appliance 10 comprises a stationary assembly 12 and four adjustable assemblies 14, 16, 18, and 20. Assembly 12 has a seat 22 for the subject patient 24. Fixed to seat 22 are a pair of posts 26A, 26B having racks 28A, 28B. Assembly 14 comprises two housings 30, 32, adapted to slide on posts 26 and made rigid by two rods 34, 36 while rod 34 is journaled in the same. The rods support blocks 38A, 38B which are fixed to rod 36 by setscrews, (not shown), while housings 30, 32 support arms 40A, 40B secured to the housing by bolts 42. In the following, parts marked A will be described and matching, or mirrored parts B will be understood by inspection. Block 38A is adapted to swivel an arm MA at a journal 46A. Arm 40A is adjusted to support arm 44A. A groove in block 38A receives an arm 48A not quite flush but slidable. Thus, a plate 50A and bolt 52A serve to clamp arm 48A. Arm 44A supports a pad 54A while arm 48A supports a pad 56A. Pinion 58A engages rack 28A. A crank 58 is used to operate a worm 60 which engages a worm gear 62 fixed to rod 34.

In summary, assembly 14 is vertically adjustable; blocks 38, although adjustable, are spaced once and then fixed for most applications; arms 44 turn, arms 48 slide.

Assembly 16 comprises two housings 64, 66 and rods 68, 70 in construction similar to housings 30, 32 and rods 34, 36, insofar as vertical adjustment is concerned. Rod 70 supports, rotatably, a roller 72 of semi-firm material. Housings 64, 66 extend to supports 74A, 7413. A slotted yoke 76A, rotatably and slidably adjustable and clampable by a bolt 78A, supports a roller 80A of semi-firm material.

Assembly 18 comprises a pair of sliding blocks 82A, 82!! supporting semi-firm rollers 84A, 84B of semi-firm material. The blocks are slotted and clampable by cranks 86A, 868 which pass through clearance holes into threaded holes in the usual manner. Assembly 18 is thus vertically adjustable and horizontally pivotable for adjustment to the patient.

Finally, assembly 20 comprises a pair of slidable clamps 88A, 888 which are made rigid by a rod 90 supporting a roller 92 of semi-tirm material.

An over the shoulder application of rollers 80A, 50B is indicated at 16, the downward positioning of the shoulder of the patient 24 being shown at 24'.

Referring to FIG. 6, an appliance 100, for supporting the head at front pads 102 and rear pads 104 attached to adjustable 106 and clampable by wing nut 108 to a bracket 110, is vertically adjustable for height from the floor. A member 112, permanently attached to a wall 1 14 by fasteners l 16 is formed with slots 118 for receiving a hook 120, formed in bracket 110. Thus appliance may be hung at any elevation within the range of member 112. Extension 122 in bracket counteracts the moment due to the downward pull at the pads.

To apply traction when using the appliance of FIGS. 1 and 2, the patient is seated on seat 22 and the roller assembly 20 is adjusted on posts 26A and 268, by sliding the pair of clamps 88A and 888 in the desired direction.

Assembly 18 is next vertically and laterally adjusted to the particular patients hinge bone body portion, to hold it firmly in place. This is effected by sliding and pivoting blocks 82 A, 82 B, after having first turned cranks 86 A, 86 B, to loosen these blocks and then tightening them when the rollers 84 A and 84 B are in the desired position.

The pair of shoulder-restraining rollers 80 A and 80 B are next swung over the patient's shoulders in the position indicated by the reference numeral 16, in dotted lines. This is effected by operating assembly 16, the construction and operation whereof has been described above.

Finally, the assembly 14 is elevated by rotating the crank 58. The pads 54 A, 548 and 56A and 56 B are adjusted in the manner described above to the respective jaw and occipital areas of the patients head. Upward pressure is applied, as needed, by cranking crank 58.

In certain instances it may be desirable to raise the shoulders upwardly, instead of restraining them. In such cases the rollers 80A and 80B of assembly 16 are moved under the patients arm pits are elevated as required.

Referring to FIG. 7, the appliance employs all of the features of appliance 10 and is adapted to receive the patient in a standing position and then recline the patient to any angled position down to horizontal. The reclinable assembly 132 has a foot support 134. A conventional motor and gear reducer 136 on bed frame 138 drives assembly 132 through a worm and sector gear (not shown) in a well-known manner. A full length cushion 140 is provided for supporting the patient when reclined.

I claim:

l. Traction cradle appliance comprising, in do'mbination, a seat member, a pair of spaced posts provided with racks, a first assembly comprising a first pair of housings adapted to slide on said posts, a pair of rods for rigidizing said housings, one of said rods being journalled in said housings, the other being fixed, a pair of blocks secured to said fixed rod, a pair of supporting arms mounted in said housings, a pair of arms adapted to swivel in said blocks, a pair of auxiliary arms secured to said housings for holding said supporting arms, a pair of jaw supporting pads secured to the free ends of said supporting arms, each of said blocks having a groove, a pair of slidable arms received in said grooves, respectively, means for clamping said slidable arms in said grooves, a pair of occipital pads secured to said slidable arms for supporting an occipital portion of a patients head, first worm gear means for displacing said housing on said racks, a second assembly comprising a second pair of housings adapted to slide on said posts, a second pair of worm gear means for displacing said second pair of housings, a rod secured intermediate said housings, a first roller of semifirm material rotatably supported on said rod intermediate said posts, a first pair of semi-firm rollers pivotable horizontally on said second pair of housings, a second pair of horizontally pivotable semi-firm rollers displaceable vertically between said posts and disposed below said first pair of semifirm rollers, means for adjustably clamping said second pair of rollers on said posts, a third horizontal semi-firm roller displaceable vertically between said posts and means for adjustably clamping said third semi-firm roller between said posts.

2. Traction cradle appliance, as claimed in claim 1, further provided with a reclinable assembly for mounting the appliance, said assembly comprising a bed frame, a foot support integral with said reclinable assembly, said bed frame having a bottom portion pivotable to said bed frame, an electromotor mounted on said bed frame and provided with a reducer operatively connected with said assembly for reclining a patient from a standing position to any angled position, down to horizontal, a cushion extending lengthwise of said assembly for supporting a patient in a corresponding position. 

1. Traction cradle appliance comprising, in combination, a seat member, a pair of spaced posts provided with racks, a first assembly comprising a first pair of housings adapted to slide on said posts, a pair of rods for rigidizing said housings, one of said rods being journalled in said housings, the other being fixed, a pair of blocks secured to said fixed rod, a pair of supporting arms mounted in said housings, a pair of arms adapted to swivel in said blocks, a pair of auxiliary arms secured to said housings for holding said supporting arms, a pair of jaw supporting pads secured to the free ends of said supporting arms, each of said blocks having a groove, a pair of slidable arms received in said grooves, respectively, means for clamping said slidable arms in said grooves, a pair of occipital pads secured to said slidable arms for supporting an occipital portion of a patient''s head, first worm gear means for displacing said housing on said racks, a second assembly comprising a second pair of housings adapted to slide on said posts, a second pair of worm gear means for displacing said second pair of housings, a rod secured intermediate said housings, a first roller of semi-firm material rotatably supported on said rod intermediate said posts, a first pair of semi-firm rollers pivotable horizontally on said second pair of housings, a second pair of horizontally pivotable semi-firm rollers displaceable vertically between said posts and disposed below said first pair of semi-firm rollers, means for adjustably clamping said second pair of rollers on said posts, a third horizontal semi-firm roller displaceable vertically between said posts and means for adjustably clamping said third semi-firm roller between said posts.
 2. Traction cradle appliance, as claimed in claim 1, further provided with a reclinable assembly for mounting the appliance, said assembly comprising a bed frame, a foot support integral with said reclinable assembly, said bed frame having a bottom portion pivotable to said bed frame, an electromotor mounted on said bed frame and provided with a reducer operatively connected with said assembly for reclining a patient from a standing position to any angled position, down to horizontal, a cushion extending lengthwise of said assembly for supporting a patient in a corresponding position. 